Amy Kruger Howard, PharmD, MS, assistant professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), received the 2026 Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award from the Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA) during the association’s annual meeting in June.

Presented to pharmacists within the first decade of practice, the award recognizes meaningful contributions to patient care, pharmacy practice, and the profession. A 2017 UMSOP Doctor of Pharmacy graduate, Howard has built a career spanning pharmacy education, research, advocacy, and professional service.

“Dr. Howard exemplifies the next generation of pharmacy leaders through her unwavering commitment to patient care, advocacy, education, and professional service,” says Jill Morgan, PharmD, professor and chair of P-SHOR. “Her impact reaches far beyond her years in practice, strengthening our profession at the local, national, and international levels while inspiring future pharmacists to lead with purpose and compassion.”

Howard’s scholarship focuses on pediatric pharmacotherapy, health literacy, and interprofessional education, with an emphasis on practical approaches that improve access, communication, and patient outcomes. Her work includes research on medicine taste and palatability, transgender and gender-diverse health, and team-based communication in health care.

One of her best-known contributions is the Ew Meds List, a resource that identifies poor-tasting liquid medicines and helps health care providers address taste-related barriers to adherence among pediatric patients. She has also led grant-funded initiatives to advance health literacy, promote equitable care, and strengthen collaboration across professions.

Howard’s research has appeared in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Hospital Pharmacy. She regularly presents her work at national and international conferences through organizations including the American Pharmacists Association, the Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA), and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).

In the classroom and skills laboratory, Howard helps students develop the foundational knowledge, judgment, and communication skills needed for patient care. As UMSOP implements its new M-Pact Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum, she will take on a central role in the Essential Pharmacy Skills Series, helping ensure continuity in preparing student pharmacists to apply core skills during experiential learning and throughout their careers. She also lectures and precepts pharmacy students and residents and leads interprofessional education initiatives centered on health equity and patient-centered care.

Howard’s professional service includes previous leadership as vice president of the MPhA Foundation, her current role as member-at-large for the Health and Medicines Information Section of FIP, service on PPA’s Research Committee, and peer review for several scholarly journals.

In 2025, Howard was named a Fellow of FIP in recognition of her sustained contributions to pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical sciences. She was one of two pharmacists from the United States selected for the distinction that year.

“Receiving this award is especially meaningful because it reflects the influence of the mentors who have guided me throughout my career,” Howard says. “Their servant leadership gave me a working roadmap for how to champion the profession while investing in others. I am deeply grateful for their example, encouragement, and advocacy, which helped my efforts be recognized, and I hope to extend that same support to the next generation of pharmacists.”

Several other UMSOP alumni were honored at the MPhA annual meeting, reflecting the School’s broad impact on Maryland’s statewide professional society representing practicing pharmacists.

MPhA President: Eriny Victor, PharmD ‘04

Honorary President (Posthumous): The Honorable John Frederick Fader II, BSP ‘63

Bowl of Hygeia Award: Brian Hose, PharmD ‘06, FACA